Ocular anti-inflammatory and systemic immunosuppressive effects of topically applied fluorometholone

Anti-inflammatory and systemic immunosuppressive effects of topically applied steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on experimental immunogenic uveitiis in rabbits were studied. The onset of the immunogenic uveitis induced by a single intravitreous injection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was significantly correlated with the appearance of anti-BSA antibody in the serum. A significant correlation was also found between the maximum serum level of antibody and the maximum severity of uveitis. Suspensions of fluorometholone, dexamethasone or indomethacin were applied topically twice a day for a month to eyes injected with BSA. Ocular inflammation was suppressed by fluorometholone and dexamethasone, fluorometholone having the greater anti-inflammatory activity. The circulating antibody titer was also suppressed by both these steroids, but conversely fluorometholone had the lower systemic immunosuppressive activity. Indomethacin did not suppress the uveitis or circulating antibody production. The results of these investigations indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of the steroid fluorometholone surpasses the immunosuppressive effect, unlike usual anti-inflammatory steroids.